A comparative study of emotional narratives in Chinese science fiction: exploring the gender perspective

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on women’s science fiction in China. A prevailing perception among readers and critics suggests that women’s sensibilities enable them to convey more nuanced emotions in their works. To examine this viewpoint within the realm of contemporary Chinese science fiction, a quantitative approach based on affective computing was employed. This approach allowed for a systematic evaluation of indicators such as emotional arc, emotional richness, and twistiness. The findings reveal that while individual writers may exhibit distinct emotional writing styles, overall, there is no significant disparity in emotional narratives between male and female science fiction writers.